THIS SEASON AT BALMAIN

Fall/Winter 2017 at Balmain introduces a wilder woman: one who walks with wolves (and wears them on her T-shirt) during the day and slips into a dramatic, crocodile-textured LBD for nighttime outings. Echoes of the brand’s newer menswear line can be seen in the looser fits and structured shoulders – while for longtime fans, there’s plenty of statement dresses, glossy golden buttons, and bold prints the brand is known for. As usual, Olivier Rousteing brought grandeur and ornate detailing to the most classic of silhouettes. Of particular must-have quality: the floor-length tweed cardigan with fringed detailing.​

THE BALMAIN STORY

Founder Pierre Balmain’s design vision was of femininity and opulence. His beautifully embroidered creations with nipped-in waists and longer, fuller skirt shapes were worn by icons ranging from Audrey Hepburn to Ava Gardner to Josephine Baker and Brigitte Bardot. Today, under the direction of hugely acclaimed Olivier Rousteing, Balmain’s decadent design codes are still intact, but infused with a rock’n’roll, even hip-hop attitude and muses such as Rihanna and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley among the unofficial brand ambassadors.